Detachable base



April 22, 194.1.

INVENToR gfx/fone LEWIS ATTORNEY l Patented Apr. 22, 1941 Y UNTEDvSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

2,239,156 DETACHABLE BASE Arthur A. Lewis, Vallejo, Calif. K ApplicationOctober 6, 1939, Serial No. 298,252

4 Claims.

My invent-ion relates to improvements in a detachable base, and itconsists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

tationary bases are used for supporting heavy objects such as motors andthe like and these objects are usually bolted to the bases so as to berigidly secured thereto. When a motor needs repairing, it is necessarythat all of the bolts first be removed so that the motor may be freedfrom the base. This is especially diicult when the motor is supported bya base which in turn is secured to the side of a wall.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a base which ispermanently secured to a foundation or other support, this base beingprovided with a portable top that may be rigidly secured to the base ina novel manner so as to be quickly removed. The novel means consists ofwedges carried by the base and top and interlocking with each other. Thebase itself has one or more wedges with cam edges extending in apredetermined direction, these wedges being adapted to engage with otherWedges carried by the portable top and having cam edges complemental tothe first edges. The portable top also has one or more wedges with camedges extending in an opposite direction to the rst mentioned group ofwedges. A key carrying one or more wedges complemental to the secondgroup of wedges on the portable top, is slidably mounted in the base andengages with the second wedge group for rigidly securing the portabletop to the base. Any means desired may be used for securing the keywedge to the base and locking it against movement.

The portable top is also provided with guides that enter grooves in thebase and hold the top against lateral movement with respect to the base.The portable top carries the motor or any other object which may bebolted thereto. If it is desired to repair the motor, it is a simplematter to free the master key and remove its wedge from the portable topwedge so that the portable top may be removed from the base. The camedges of the wedges carried by the base and portable top, forms acriss-cross pattern and assures a rigid connection between the two whenthe parts are assembled and locked in place by the key. The wedgespermit wear to be automatically taken up. The device is extremely simplein construction andaiords a strong and rigid connection between two basemembers, while atthe .same

time permittinga quick detachment.

I'he device lends itself admirably to use in escape means forsubmarines. For example, the submarine itself may constitute the base ofthe device and carry the base wedges while a removable compartment forthe submarine may constitute the portable top'and carry wedgescomplemental to the base wedges. The compartment can be large enough tohouse the entire crew when the submarine sinks and fails to come to thesurface. The compartment may be freed from the submarine itself byremoving the key that connects the two parts together, whereupon thebuoyancy of the compartment will cause it to rapidly rise to the surfaceof the water, carrying the crew therewith.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a partof this application, in which K Figure l is an isometric view of thebase member alone;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the portab-le top by itself;

Figure 3 is an isometric View of the master key used for securing theportable top to the base;

Figure 4 shows the parts assembled and is a section along the line 4 4of Figure 6;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device; and

Figure 6 isa section substantially along the line l--G of Figure 4.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a'base indicated generally at A.This base has a base wedge I, see Figure 1, integral therewith, and awedge-shaped recess 2 provided adjacent to the wedge I. Two longitudinalgrooves 3 and 4 are formed in the base and a T -shaped keyway 5 isplaced between the grooves 3 and 4 and runs parallel therewith. A block6 is mounted on the base and is positioned between the groove 4 and theT-shaped groove 5.

A portable top indicated generally at B in Figure 2', carries a masterwedge 'I designed to enter the recess 2 in the base A, The wedge 'i hasan inclined cam surface 8 adapted to contactwith the inclined camsurface 9 of the wedge I. I have Yshown only a single wedge I cooperat-Aing with a single wedge 1 for the sake of simplicity, although inactual practice a number of interlocking wedges I and l may be used.

The portable top B carries two integral guide members rIll and IIdesigned to enter the guide grooves 3 and 4 in the base. The guide I 0separates the wedge 'I from another wedge I2 that has a cam edge I3extending in a direction opposite to the cam edge 8. The lower surfaceI2a of the wedge I2 is spaced above the top A' of the base A and the topof the wedge I is spaced below the undersurface of the portable top B.In Figure 3 I show a master key C and this key carries a locking wedgeI4 provided with an inclined cam edge I5 that is adapted to contact withthe inclined cam edge I3 of the wedge I2. The key also has a T-shapedmember I6 slidably receivable in the T-shaped groove 5 formed in thebase A.

A block I'I is integral with the master key C and is positioned inalignment with the block 6 when the key is mounted in the base. 'Iheblock Il has a threaded bore I8, see Figure 4, that receives a screw I9which is threaded into a threaded bore 2D formed in the block 6. Thescrew I9 has a head 2l by means of which the screw is roover the base Aso that its wedge 'I will have its edge 8 contact with the edge 9 of thewedge I. Space is provided between the bottom of the wedge i and thebottom of the recess 2 for wear and this space is shown at 23 in Figure5. A space 24 may also be provided between the rear of the wedge 'I andthe adjacent wall of the recess 2.

The portable top is now supportedon the base by the guides lil and IIand the guides prevent lateral movement between the top and the base.The wedge I engaging with the wedge I prevents longitudinal movementbetween the portable top and the base in oney direction. The means forpreventing longitudinal movement between' the portable top and the basein the opposite direction consists of the wedge I2 and the key wedge 4.The key C is moved into the groove 5 and is advanced until the edge I5contacts with the edge I3. The screw 2i is screwed into the bore I8 ofthe block l'l for causing the wedge I4 to urge the wedge I2 downwardlytoward the base. This will also urge the wedge 1 down toward the basebecause the movement of the key wedge I4 will tend to move the wedge 'Iin the same direction and this will force the wedge 'I under the wedgeYI and urge the top B toward the base A. The screw I9 locks the wedge I4and in turn is held against accidental rotation by the lock nut V22. l 4

As a further precaution for securing the key in position, I provide atapered pin 25 that may be passed through aslot 26 in the portable topvand 'down into an opening 2'! in the block I'I`. The pin also extendsdown into an opening or bore 28 provided in the base A. The top of thepin projects a slight distance above the upper surface of the portabletop for permitting the" ready removal of the pin.

It will be seen that the portable top is securely and rigidly attachedto the base and is heldV against movement in all directions. Theportable' top may be quickly freed from the base by `first removing thepin 25 and then unscrewing the bolt I9, whereupon the key C may be freedfrom the wedge I2 and the portable top maybe lifted from the base. 1 I YThe base may be said to' consister two parts in which both are securedtogether by wedging in one direction of movement and rewedging in theopposite direction of movement, thus compounding the wedging action. Themovable wedge carried by the key makes the compound wedging effectpossible, The key wedge lalso acts in tightening, securing and releasingall 0f the wedges. The guides I0 and II prevent lateral movement betweenthe parts.

The compound wedging of the two parts saves time, labor and cost ofreplacement of parts. No resetting, chalking, or realignment of theparts is necessary. Only a few minutes `are needed to remove and replaceequipment after the device is once installed. The device provides a baseas strong as the material forming the base. The device is easy tooperate and the key may be moved by hydraulic means or a rack and gearin place of the screw if desired. The portable top slides into and outof position. There is no vibrating or shifting of parts after they havebeen once set. I have provided an all purpose portable base whichautomatically wedges by movement in one direction. The angle of thewedges is varied to suit requirements.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should beunderstood that various changes or modifications may be made within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

It should further be noted that during the engaging and disengaging ofthe cams, the top portion B cannot tilt or move in a zig-zag manner withrespect to the base A. The top portion is vmaintained parallel with thebase at all times during its connection and disconnection. If desired,the wedges I and I may be provided in pairs on both sides of the devicein order to insure this uniform removal from and connection between 1the top portion and the base.

' greater strain is placed on any one wedge than is placed on the othersas the two parts are freed from each other or connected together.

I claim:

1. In combination, a base having a guideway extending lengthwisethereof, a portable top intertting with the guideway and being movablealong the base, the base having an inclined recess sloping downwardly atan angle, one wall of the recess dening an undercut base wedge having apointed end at the top of the recess and an inclined cam surfaceextending downwardly therefrom, the top having an undercut master wedgexed thereto and accommodated in the recess of the base, the master wedgehaving an inclined cam surface made to bear against the inclined camsurface of the base wedge and coacting with the latter for drawing thetop toward the base when the former is moved in one direction relativeto the latter, the top having a second undercut wedge thereon with aninclined cam surface sloping in the opposite direction with respect tothe inclined cam surface on the master wedge, a locking wedge anchoredin the base and guided for movement along the base, the locking wedgehaving an inclined cam surface sloping in the same direction as theinclined cam surface on said second wedge on the'top, whereby the latterwill be further urged toward the base and locked thereto when thelocking wedge is moved in one direction along the base, and means formoving the locking wedge along the base for locking the top to the base.

2. In combination, a base having a guideway extending lengthwisethereof, a portable top interitting with the guideway and being movablelongitudinally along the base, the base having an undercut wedge with aninclined cam surface on the lower side of the wedge, the top having anundercut master wedge fixed thereto provided with an inclined camsurface, the latter surface being made to bear against the inclined camsurface of the base wedge and coact therewith for drawing the top towardthe base when the former is moved in one direction relative to thelatter, the top having a second undercut wedge thereon with an inclinedcam surface sloping in the opposite direction with respect to theinclined cam surface on the master wedge, a locking wedge anchored inthe base and guided for movement lengthwise of the base, the lockingwedge having an inclined cam surface sloping in the same direction asthe inclined cam surface on said second wedge on the top, whereby thelatter will be further urged toward the base and locked thereto when thelocking wedge is moved in one direction along the base, and means formoving the locking wedge longitudinally of the base for locking the topto the base.

3. In combination, a base having a guideway extending lengthwisethereof, a portable top inl terfitting with the guideway and beingmovable longitudinally along the base, the base having an undercut wedgewith an inclined cam surface on the lower side of the wedge, the tophaving an undercut master wedge fixed thereto provided with an inclinedcam surface, the latter surface being made to bear against the inclinedcam surface of the base Wedge and coact therewith for drawing the toptoward the base when the former is moved in one direction relative tothe latter, the top having a second undercut wedge thereon with aninclined cam surface sloping in the opposite direction with respect tothe inclined cam surface on the master wedge, a locking Wedge anchoredin the base and guided for movement lengthwise of the base, the lockingwedge having an inclined cam surface sloping in the same direction asthe inclined surface on said second wedge on the top, whereby the latterwill be further urged toward the base and locked thereto when thelocking wedge is moved in one direction along the base, the top and basebeing shaped to provide an opening extending inwardly from one end ofthe base and underneath the top, and means including an adjustableelement disposed in said opening for moving the locking wedgelongitudinally of the base for locking the top to the base.

4. In combination, a base having a pair of spaced and parallel guidewaysextending length- Wise thereof, a portable top movable along the baseand having parallel guide members riding in said guideways and holdingthe top from twisting, teetering and shifting laterally with respect tothe base, the base having an undercut wedge with an inclined cam surfaceon the lower side of the Wedge, the top having an undercut master wedgefixed thereto provided with an inclined cam surface, the latter surfacebeing made to bear against the inclined cam surface of the base Wedgeand coact therewith for drawing the top toward the base when the formeris moved in one direction relative to the base, the top having a secondundercut wedge thereon with an inclined cam surface sloping in theopposite direction with respect to the inclined cam surface on themaster wedge, a locking wedge anchored.

in the base and guided for movement along the base, the locking wedgehaving an inclined cam surface sloping in the same direction as theinclined cam surface on said second Wedge on the top, whereby the latterwill be further urged toward the base and locked thereto when thelocking wedge is moved in oney direction along the base, and means formoving the locking Wedge along the base for locking the top to the base.

ARTHUR A. LEWIS.

